See also https://asiamedals.info/threads/early-order-of-white-elephant-of-governess-anna-leonowens.25460/.
Gold, enamel.
Size 83 x 40 mm.
Weight 40.7 g.
Gold, enamel.
Size 83 x 40 mm.
Weight 40.7 g.
Early Order of White Elephant of Major John Frederick Aldophus McNair, Royal Artillery
John Frederick Adolphus McNair /October 23, 1828, Bath, England – May 17, 1910, Brighton, England/, known as Frederick, studied at King’s College London and the School of Mines. He entered the Madras Artillery in 1845, and was promoted to the rank of captain in 1858 and major (retired) in 1870. He served in Malacca, commanding the detachment of the Madras Native Artillery, and in Labuan from 1853. In 1856, McNair was called to Singapore to be the adjutant to the Straits Settlements Artillery. In December 1857, after serving as aide-de-camp and private secretary to then Governor E. A. Blundell, McNair became the executive engineer and superintendent of convicts. In the latter roles, McNair was responsible for supervising public works projects and prisons in Singapore. McNair was fluent in Hindustani and was said to have “acquired a remarkable personal influence” over the convicts. He returned to England from 1865 to 1867 to serve as deputy governor and head of public works at the Woking Prison. After that, McNair came back to Singapore and subsequently took up various appointments – colonial engineer, controller of convicts, Legislative Council member when the administration of the Straits Settlements was transferred from the Indian government to the Colonial Office in London, colonial secretary and surveyor-general.
McNair was officially employed on important missions to Siam in 1868, 1874, 1875 and 1878. Having studied geology in England, he sent mineral, wood and resin samples to India during his early posting to Malacca. His travels included helping to organise the signing of the Treaty of Pangkor in 1874, establishing the Residency system of which he was an advocate. He was officiating chief commissioner (government liaison) to the troops during the Perak War (1875–76). McNair received a medal and published a detailed book describing the state and defending the campaign. During the 1870s, he was the governors’ adviser on Malaya.
In 1881, McNair was posted to Penang as acting lieutenant-governor and resident councillor. He appeared to have been popular there, and improved Penang’s sanitation and drainage facilities before exhaustion compelled his retirement in 1884. McNair returned to England and frequently contributed to the publication Asiatic Quarterly before his death in 1910.
McNair was officially employed on important missions to Siam in 1868, 1874, 1875 and 1878. Having studied geology in England, he sent mineral, wood and resin samples to India during his early posting to Malacca. His travels included helping to organise the signing of the Treaty of Pangkor in 1874, establishing the Residency system of which he was an advocate. He was officiating chief commissioner (government liaison) to the troops during the Perak War (1875–76). McNair received a medal and published a detailed book describing the state and defending the campaign. During the 1870s, he was the governors’ adviser on Malaya.
In 1881, McNair was posted to Penang as acting lieutenant-governor and resident councillor. He appeared to have been popular there, and improved Penang’s sanitation and drainage facilities before exhaustion compelled his retirement in 1884. McNair returned to England and frequently contributed to the publication Asiatic Quarterly before his death in 1910.
From "J. F. A. McNair" by Duncan Sutherland, Singapore Infopedia.